Chapter Three
Not long after he’d seen the last of her dust, Sam spotted a couple of riders. They approached him cautiously. “Mornin’,” they called.
Nodog growled and this time he didn’t relax when the strangers came near.
Sam watched him out of the corner of his eyes, he knew if Nodog didn’t trust them, he shouldn’t either.
Sam eyed them curiously from the distance, nothing strange about them, cowhands obviously, only they didn’t look him in the eye. Sam didn’t trust a man that couldn’t look him in the eye. They quickly averted glances, one sat the saddle crooked, drooling tobacco down his lower lip, the other rider had an arrogant air about him, as he aggressively approached.
Their expressions wore arrogance.
An honest man, when riding into strangers camp would look him straight in the eye, maybe take off his hat, and smile a little. These men didn’t and he knew by the bristles on Nodog’s back that these men were not to be trusted.
Sam cast them a curious glance before speaking, “Mornin’.”
After burying a man, Sam wasn’t in the mood for stilted pleasantries. He needed to be moving along.
“Nice dog. Is he dangerous?”
Sam cast Nodog a quick glance and smiled easily. “Depends on who crosses him,” Sam said matter-of-factly. “He’s part wolf so he’s a little more high strung than most dogs. As long as you don’t pull a gun or flash a fist, or bother me, he won’t bother you.”
They’d been riding hard as their horses were foaming. Cowhands didn’t usually ride their horses so hard. Most knew better than to treat a horse like that, unless there was reason. Sam saw the fresh scrapes on their chaps, how worn they were as though they’d been out in the sticks all day, their guns at their hip and their expressions wore a guard.
“Well now, you’re a stranger in these parts, ain’t you?” the arrogant older one said, as he glanced at the grave with obvious curiosity, and leaned on his saddle horn.
Sam sensed the immediate tension rising between the three of them. He didn’t flinch or show fear.
“Yes sir, I am.” His voice remained cool, but steel-edged.
Determined to give them the benefit of the doubt, he kept a relaxed demeanor.
“Don’t see no one else about; you alone?”
“Just me and Nodog…” Sam smiled.
“Nodog, is that his name?” One of them laughed.
“It is.” Sam nodded, his voice staid and exact.
Sam figured he would learn more by keeping his mouth shut. Something Chase Rivers had taught him long ago, and Lee Nelson, his brother-in-law had always advised him to listen to Chase as he knew what he was talking about.
“Who’d you bury?” the other man asked, glancing at the grave.
“I didn’t.” Sam glanced down at the grave momentarily. “I found the grave…looks pretty fresh, don’t it?” Sam squatted and straightened the cross as exasperation climbed his back once more. Their small talk was unnecessary.
“Sure does…so what you doin’ out here in the middle of nowhere?” the first man asked as he smiled at his partner. The banter between the two men was meant to intimidate, but Sam indulged them a moment longer. The conversation was taking a different turn and Sam knew it wouldn’t be fruitful.
“Just travelin’ through,” Sam remarked, not glancing at them.
“On foot?” the other asked with a laugh.
“Yes sir, lost my horse yesterday.” Sam saw Nodog bristle, and bare his teeth, a sure sign there was trouble ahead. “Snake startled him, he threw me and took off. Thought I’d see about another horse when I get to the next town. He was always a little skiddish. I been walkin’ ever since. I walked over here to stay under the shade a while and cool off. Ain’t many trees out this way.”
“Lost it. Well now, what kind of man loses a horse?” the first man asked with a chuckle yet his sarcasm carried to his friend.
“A careless one, I guess,” Sam answered with a laugh. “How far is it to the next town?”
“Ain’t no towns out this way. There’s a few places about to get some supplies, but no towns around here. What’s your name, stranger?” the cowboy asked as his fingers twiddled with a rope in his hand.